Award

December 2021

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | 29 Green Building Design R EN D ER I N G CO U RT E S Y H D R A RC H I T EC T U R E A SS O C I AT E S The International Code Council's (ICC) approval to the 2021 editions of the International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code that allows for mass timber buildings up to 18 storeys has not only helped spur this interest, but is pushing architects and their clients to reimagine what tall buildings can look like. HDR is involved in two highly innovative mass timber wood buildings that are currently in devel- opment permit stage: a 19-storey wood hybrid tower (residential) in Penticton and a 12-storey wood tower (hotel) in Kelowna. "Both have been designed with mass timber and are very unique. Clients are now coming to us asking about the possibilities of designing with wood, rather than what we have seen in the past where we were the ones having to pro- pose mass timber. Projects like the six-storey West Wing Hotel in Penticton have shown what's possible when it comes to taller wood structures, and prove it to be a cost-effective solution," says Robert Cesnik, architect at HDR Architecture Associates, Inc. The 12-storey Ramada by Wyndham Hotel & Conference Center in Kelowna has been designed using partial encapsulation and exposed CLT (cross laminated timber) and glulam and is expected to become the tallest structure of its kind in the city. For the 19-storey Wood Hybrid Tower in Penticton, the compromised soil conditions of the floodplain site meant that the reduced weight of mass tim- ber compared to concrete lowered the construction costs significantly. Each floor consists of 70 locally produced CLT panels, making it the largest mass- timber project in the region. Cesnik says one challenge however, when it comes to mass timber, has been insurance: "In the past, insurance companies have perceived mass timber in the same lights as light wood frame construction, when they are two very different strat- egies and don't act in the same way. While resolution on that is still needed here in Canada, it is slowly changing," he says. Looking ahead, Cesnik is exciting about a number of mass timber projects they have in the pipeline, including the En Terre Vineyards that is currently in the design phase. "We are look- ing at the feasibility of Living Building Challenge Certification for that project, but more to come on that next year." It's not just in the architectural realm either that interest in green building design has seen a dramatic increase. RJC Engineers is seeing more and more projects targeting designations such as NetZero and Passive House, and, in some cases, even if it isn't possible to pursue full accreditation, the concepts of these systems are being incorporated in the designs. One of the many exemplary green building design projects that RJC Engineers is working on is the recently completed Clayton Community Centre in the City of Surrey – the largest Passive House cer- tified building of it's type. "This building had the Passive House framework front and centre from the start, which led to a number of early design deci- sions that allowed the overall design to be a success," says RJC associate Meredith Anderson. Of course, there still remains challenges when it comes to green building design for structural engineers, and among those are requirements to minimize thermal bridging and incorporate thick insulation. "There is a constant push and pull between structural continuity and the desire to break up these systems as they pass through the building envelope," says Anderson. "There are some great new technologies that have been developed to help with these situations, and we as engineers need to stay apprised of the new developments in tools available to us." As for what 2022 and beyond has in store, Anderson says RJC Engineers is really happy to see more buildings being designed for their entire life cycle, not just immediate material costs and carbon impacts. "Structural designs are for the long term, so it is intuitive to us as structural engineers that building form, function, and all other systems in green building design target this approach as well." The science behind green building design is becoming increasingly more important, and the team at RWDI is renowned for ensuring every proj- ect fits its climate context and for educating with research-based evidence. In recent news, RWDI's acoustics team was involved in new guidelines to clarify the expecta- tions for professional practice for architects and engineers designing mass timber buildings up to 12 storeys. The team drew on their extensive technical expertise and project experience to provide the acoustical and noise mediation section in the guide- lines entitled Joint Professional Practice Guidelines – Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction up to 12 storeys. Sound interacts with nearly every building com- ponent in some way. For mass timber construction, it is even more important to consider acoustic require- ments in the early stages of design, due to its low density and stiffness. The acoustical considerations covered in the guidelines help mitigate common issues and noise risks with timber buildings includ- ing: room acoustics, sound isolation, impact/footfall sound insulation, building services noise and vibra- tion control, floor vibration, and exterior to interior noise control. By providing expertise on the matter, RWDI is opening up new opportunities for mass tim- ber as a green building option. To help owners and developers down the path of green buildings, utility companies continue to do their part. FortisBC remains committed to lead- ing the way when it comes to green building design and helping decarbonize the building sector, and Marysol Escamilla, program specialist, conserva- tion and energy management, FortisBC, says there are various pathways for owners and developers to take to get there. "We believe using natural gas and electricity together can help us reach these emission reduction targets, while still being a more affordable option versus shifting to an electricity only approach to space and water heating and ventilation." Natural gas heat pumps are of course one option, as these units can exceed 100 percent efficiency and are approximately 10 to 25 percent more efficient than a condensing boiler, water heater, or roof top unit. In 2020, FortisBC completed a pilot program testing high-efficiency natural gas absorption heat pumps – the first of its kind in Canada. The pilot was performed at seven facilities and the results were positive overall, with facilities seeing average natu- ral gas savings of up to 21 percent. Recently, as part of its early adopter offer, FortisBC received expressions of interest from organizations who would like to adopt this technology in their facil- ities. "We saw many different organizations express interest in this program, including a healthcare cen- tre, a number of multi-unit residential buildings, a recreational centre, and a fire hall. The selected sites will have their installation and equipment costs 100 percent covered, up to a maximum of $70,000 per site and in return, FortisBC will collect performance data for one year to further prove the energy savings of these units." says Escamilla. FortisBC is preparing to launch an incentive program for these units in 2022 to help other orga- nizations adopt and install natural gas heat pumps. Across the country, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) announced this year it is investing in projects that increase Indigenous par- ticipation in Ontario's energy sector. The IESO is providing $7.1 million in funding to 61 recipients that will support energy planning, renewable generation, energy-efficiency measures, as well as skills development and training. A broad range of projects are being funded through the IESO's Energy Support Programs. These include a large number of projects that will help non- grid-connected communities accelerate the transition away from diesel generation by installing renewable generation and/or energy storage, reducing green- house gas emissions and improving local resilience. Among those projects, 15 new Community Energy Champions will be hired, trained, and given the opportunity to develop and execute local energy projects, which may include energy-efficiency mea- sures that improve building performance, conserve energy, and lower customers' energy costs. "We continue to listen carefully to our Indigenous partners with a view to ensuring our funding deliv- ers tangible results and enables positive economic, environmental and social outcomes," said the IESO's interim president and CEO, Terry Young. "These are transformative projects, and we are pleased to work with funding recipients to create new opportunities and drive meaningful change that supports their identified priorities." A Ramada by Wyndham Hotel & Conference Center, Kelowna B.C.

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